Celebrate Life Magazine

In every edition Celebrate Life features a page dedicated to the basics of the pro-life mindset.

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Jan - Feb 2011

What documents would you recommend that Catholics read to educate themselves on the Church’s teachings concerning the sanctity of life?

Judie Brown

Nov - Dec 2011

In response to “The pill kills marriage” (Celebrate Life, July-August), which reported one woman’s sad experience with contraception and her subsequent discovery of the beauty of naturally spacing children, an American Life League supporter wrote the following: “Do you not know that the holy Catholic Church has always taught that the institution of marriage is first and foremost for procreation and rearing of children for God? Further, any interference or undermining of this purpose, especially convenience, is immoral.”
Judie Brown

Sep - Oct 2011

For over two years, my husband and I struggled with infertility. We eventually decided to pursue in vitro fertilization. It did not work, but as a result, more than 10 embryos were produced. I then decided to give up on medical treatments and leave my future in God’s hands. A few months later, I got pregnant. After a while, I got pregnant again naturally and delivered a healthy baby girl. However, we are now left with the question of what we should do with the embryos [who] have been frozen.
Judie Brown

July - Aug 2011	I receive many questions about the Catholic Church's teaching on contraception, but the most frequent is this two-part question: Why don't you stop talking against contraception? Don't you know that contraception leads to fewer abortions? Judie Brown
May - June 2011	Why should we not allow abortion in order to save the mother’s life? Judie Brown
Mar - Apr 2011	I’m 16 years old and recently found out I’m pregnant—and not by choice. I was raped by our neighbor’s son. I feel dirty, disgusted that I have this baby inside of me, whom I don’t want. Every day, I wish I could spontaneously abort [my baby], but if it doesn’t happen, then I want to get an induced abortion. Judie Brown
Jan - Feb 2011	I have been searching online to see if I could find an answer to this myself, but with no luck. When my husband and I have relations, he will withdraw before climaxing. I am now questioning whether that is acceptable to the Catholic Church. Judie Brown
Fall 2010	In "Pro-Life Basics," you seem to be defending the death penalty. I do not agree with your interpretation of the Catechism relative to the death penalty, and I certainly don’t see much difference between abortion and the death penalty. Neither one is a natural death [as] defined by Pope John Paul the Great. Judie Brown
Jul - Aug 2010	The doctor asked if I’d like to have a NovaSure ablation [a surgical procedure that destroys the uterine lining]. She said it would permanently relieve my heavy flow each month and that it was for women who don’t plan on having any more children. I’m 49 years old ... so that sounded OK to me except I wondered if this was “kosher” for a Catholic. Now, I’m sorry I had the ablation, and my husband and I worry about what could happen if I become pregnant. And how can I practice natural family planning if I no longer have a cycle? Was this an affront to God? Dr. Anthony Dardano
May - Jun 2010	My husband and I have been trying to conceive our third child since I had my intrauterine device taken out. Since then, I’ve felt sick to my stomach, bloated and like a bottomless pit... I’m very emotional... I’ve had bad headaches, backaches, light-headedness, hot flashes and cramping. Can you give me any advice? Dr. Anthony Dardano
Mar - Apr 2010	How can a Catholic bishop refuse to give Communion to a politician for his views on abortion, but not for his views on the death penalty, war, etc.? Judie Brown
Jan - Feb 2010	My son-in-law's 80-year-old grandfather had a severe stroke. The doctors say half his brain is dead and he will never be able to eat, sit up, walk or take care of himself again. He never wanted to end up in a care facility, in a vegetative state. Is it acceptable to withhold a feeding tube from him? Judie Brown
Nov - Dec 2009	How should I talk to my "prochoice" friends about the fact that the preborn child is a person? They don't seem to get it. Judie Brown
Sep - Oct 2009	Why doesn't American Life League simply say that a human being's life begins at conception or fertilization? Judie Brown
Jul - Aug 2009	I understand fully what you have against abortion, but the pill? Judie Brown
May - Jun 2009	Does the preborn child have his or her own DNA from the very beginning of his or her life? Judie Brown
Mar - Apr 2009	Is it ethical to promote the adoption of frozen embryonic children? Judie Brown
Jan - Feb 2009	Five years ago, American Life League began a campaign to focus attention on protecting Christ in the Eucharist from scandal (see www.Canon915.org), precisely because we were asking the same questions you are now asking. Judie Brown
Nov - Dec 2008	One can trace the earliest origins of... semantic corruption of key embryology terminology to the 1969 book The Second Genesis: The Coming Control of Life. John Wilks, B. Pharm., M.P.S., M.A.C.P.P.
Sep - Oct 2008	A problem we must eventually address is the criminal penalties to impose for abortion... A discussion of reasonable penalties would be very beneficial. Judie Brown
Jul - Aug 2008	I would appreciate your professional evaluation of contraceptives. Dr. Anthony Dardano
May - Jun 2008	When does a person get his soul? How does this affect Church teaching on contraception and abortion? Judie Brown
Mar - Apr 2008	I don't see a difference between "conception" and "fertilization"... Which terms should pro-lifers be using? Judie Brown
Jan - Feb 2008	I want to vote pro-life. Should I choose the lesser of two evils? Judie Brown
Nov - Dec 2007	Is it right for Catholic hospitals to give emergency contraception (Plan B) to rape victims? Judie Brown
Sep- Oct 2007	I am a young woman with an ovarian cyst. My doctor wants me to use the pill to control the pain. Is this alright even if I am not sexually active? Judie Brown
May - Jun 2007	What do you think of death certificates for babies killed by abortion? Judie Brown
Mar - Apr 2007	I am absolutely against procured abortion. However, according to Evangelium Vitae by Pope John Paul II, we are permitted to make some compromises in cases here it is impossible to totally outlaw abortion. Therefore, I don’t understand your opposition to incremental steps. Judie Brown
Jan- Feb 2007	How do doctors determine whether a patient is brain dead? Paul Byrne
Nov- Dec 2006	What shoud I do about my mother in light of Church teaching? By Judie Brown
Sep - Oct 2006	A lot of people think that the diagnosis of “brain death” means the patient is actually dead. Is this true? Dr. Paul Byrne
Jul - Aug 2006	How should I talk to a pro-abortion politician? By Judie Brown
May - Jun 2006	What should I say to friends who insist on all-natural foods, but then use the birth control pill? By Phil Eddy
Mar - Apr 2006	What’s wrong with using a condom? by Judie Brown
Jan - Feb 2006	What's all the fuss about EC? by Jim Sedlak
Nov - Dec 2005	Does in vitro fertilization violate human dignity? by Judie Brown
Sep - Oct 2005	What about abortion when pregnancy is the result of rape? Judie Brown
Jul - Aug 2005	Do the disabled have a right to die? Judie Brown
May - Jun 2005	Has the pro-life movement forgotten its ultimate goal of total protection for all human life? Judie Brown
Mar - Apr 2005	Is abortion always wrong? Judie Brown
Jan - Feb 2005	Where is the love in your pro-life work? Mickey Inthavongdy
Nov - Dec 2004	Do Birth Control Pills Really Abort? Shellie Roach